Telephone repeating apparatus



I March 5, 1935. c RICCHIARD] 1,993,486

TELEPHONE REPEATING APPARATUS Filed May 29, 1935 3 Sheets-Shee't l March 5, 1935.

P. C. RICCHIARDI TELEPHONE REPEATING APPARATUS Filed May 29, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 12 March 5, 1935.

TELEPHONE REPEATING APPARATUS Filed May 29, 1933 5 SheetsSh7et 3 PaEtentedLMar. 5,1935

. PATENT OFFICE 1,993,486 TELEPHONE REPEATING APPARATUS Pier Carlo RlcchiardLJaris, France Application May 29, 1933, Serial No. 673,545

In Italy' June 11, 1932 17 Claims. (o 119-6) My invention relates to phone repeating apparat to a device whereby it is possible to receive and deliver messages in the absence of a party. at the receiving end'of a telephone installation.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an apparatus which functions automatically to raise the receiver hook upon receipt of a signal, and by means of associated electrical and mechanical apparatus, to invite the party calling to leave a message and to deliver a desired message to that party and none other.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus which may be associated with the ordinary dial telephone installation to carry out the above-mentioned objects without necessitatinga change in the installation, i. e., it is to liver to him the message I of electrical impulses and (i. e., what is commonly known number, hence for all supplement and not to replace the installation,'

thus making it more practicable and desirable. Another object of my invention is to provide an arrangement which will permanently record incoming messages automatically at the will of the receiving party, regardless of whether or nothe is present at the time.

- still another object is to-provide an apparatus which maybe used not only to permanently record speech from another telephone, but may also be used to provide a permanent record of material dictated to it.

The invention makes use of what is commonly called the Poulsen type of recording or electromagnetic recording of variable electrical currents on a moving wire. This, of course, it merely my preferred form of recording and reproducing I may substitute just optical engraving as sound on film recording) The engraving system per se is not the invention, hence my specific showing without modification in conjunction with my invention.

Broadly speaking, the apparatus is so arranged that when an electrical signal is received at the receiver (usually the bell signal), the receiver hook is automatically lifted to place the apparatus in an operative condition. The person calling hears a socalled general message which informs him of the absence of the receiving party. The person calling then dials on a second provided dial his own specific code .number, this dialling serving to condition the apparatus'to dethat has been left for him. by the absent party. Strangers calling would have only one chance out of a large number of thousands of dialling the correct code practical purposes the prias easily gramophone discs of improvements in teleand more especiallyceive and record any message conductor 10, relay 11 and vate message may not be intercepted. Then when a definite time interval haselapsed, this being determined by the action of a retarded type relay, the apparatus is conditioned to rethe caller may choose to leave.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the drawings, in which there is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, which should be arranged consecutively on the correspondingly lettered a composite diagrammatic view of a preferred embodiment oi. the present invention, in which embodiment a steel magnetic wire is utilized as recording and reproducing means, the private messages to be delivered being five in number.

In the space enclosed by thedotted lines, there is diagrammatically shown a normal automatic telephonic appartaus. 2-3 are the lead wires oi the telephone line, 4 is the telephone receiver including the telephone and the ally detached from hook 5. The current passes in the known direction through the circuit of the telephonic recei, er and actuates the bells, thus causing them to vibrate.

Movement of the striker 6 of the bell, grounded at 9, causes the two contacts '7 to touch contacts 8. The circuit including 9, striker 6, contacts I, 8, positive terminal 12 is thus. closed. Relay 11, thus energized, attracts its armature 13 which keeps hook 5 in its lower position. Said hook, pushed by its spring, will swing up and bring into circuit the whole of system 1. This operation avoids the manual unhooking of the telephone receiver at the time of a call. when moving upwardly, hook 5 causes tooth 15 with which it'is provided, to strike against small lever 16, which by rotating about 17, forces the arm portion 18 against the resilient contact member 19, which in turn touches contact 20.

Contacts 1,9-20 will thus be closed, but this I closing will only be momentary since the further displacement of tooth 15 will bring it beyond small lever 16 which, pushed by the resilient contact member 19, will come back into its position oi rest.

By closing contacts 19-20, a circuit is closed which starting from the grounded side of contact member mass 19 passes through contact 20, conductors 21, 22, 23, 24, winding of relay 25, 0

conductor 26 and direct positive terminal of feed terminal of said battery 25, thus energized, will will bear against terminal 30 battery 2'1, the negative being grounded. Relay attract its armature 28 which contact 29 thus connecting positive lines, 10

microphone usu- 20 1 to all of the parts of the apparatus. It has been seen that the closing of contacts 19-20 was momentary. The impulse of current will therefore energize relay 25, but once the current has been cut ofi said relay will not release its armature 28,

but will keep it attracted for a supplementary period of time as above explained, being a retarded type relay.

In the meantime, arm 5 will have reached the end of its course thus applying contact 31 (connected to ground 33) against contact 32. This will close a circuit comprising grounded negative terminal 33, contact 32, wire 34 and motor 35, and a grounded source of potential. Motor 35 thus energized will begin to run.

Thus we see that the apparatus is now on the line, that the positive terminal of the feed battery is now in contact with all the positive terminals of the system (through the action of relay 25), and that motor 35 is running.

Telephone lines 2-3 are now in contact with the arms 38-39 of switch 40 through conductors 36-37. If said arms 38-39 are now brought against contacts 41-42, the apparatus, through conductors 43-44, works as an ordinary automatic telephone, use being made of the telephone microphone system 4. When the owner of the telephone installation has to leave, and only in this case, arms 38-39 are applied against contacts45-46, the circuit of the line then passing through contact 45, conductor 47, primary 48 of a transformer, conductor 49, secondary 50 of another transformer, conductor 51 and contact 46, which is connected to the telephone line.

The'four arms 52, 53, 58, 59 of switch 40,'if they are applied against contacts 54, 55, 62 and 63, respectively, enable the receipt of telephone conversation through a loud speaker and for transmitting through a table microphone,'so as to allow a communication without it being nec essary to kep the telephone combined receiver and transmitter in hand. This is the desirable hookup when the person that is called is present.

In the case of the desired party being absent, switch arms 38, 39, 52, 53-58, 59 are applied against contacts 45, 46, 56, 57 and 60-61 respectively. Let it be supposed that a pulsating or alternating current of speech frequency flows through the telephone line. By flowing through the circuit above described, the current flows through the primary of transformer 48. This passage of current will induce in the secondary 48bis, a current which, by energizing the grid of amplifying tube V1, will produce an amplified current flowing through the primary of transformer 64 and through the conductors 22, 23, 24 into the windings of retarded relay 25 (thus energizing it as already explained) and from said windings to the positive terminal of the supply battery. The current from the line thus ampli-v fied will induce in secondary 65, a current which, on one side of conductor 66, flows to arm 52, and, on the other side, flows through conductor 67 through the windings of a relay 68, conductor 69, electro-magnet 70, conductor 71 and arm 53. If, as already explained, the person that is called is present, the two arms 52-53 are applied against contacts 54-55; the current from the line (the conversation from the caller) after the amplification above described, will be reproduced by loud speaker 72. If, on the contrary, arms 52, 53 are applied against contacts 56-57, the apparatus will be in position for electro-magnetically recording the words of the caller.

Let it be again supposed that the person that is called is present. In the same way as it has been explained that the telephone conversation was received by means of a loud speaker, the person called may answer by means of the microphone. The two arms 58-59 are then applied against contacts 62-63. The currents set up by microphone 73 are conveyed to the transformer 74, and a current will flow through the following circuit: conductor 75, contact 63, arm 59, conductor 80, the primary winding of transformer 79, conductor 78, arm 58, contact 62, conductor 76 and the secondary of transformer 74. The current flowing through the primary of transformer 79 will produce in the secondary thereof a current that will energize the grid of the amplifying tube. The amplified current will flow from the plate through the primary of transformer 50 through the positive terminal of the supply battery to ground. The amplified current induced in.the secondary of transformer 50, flows through the following circuit; arm 38, contact 46, conductor 51, secondary of transformer 50, con ductor 49, conductor 47, contact 45 and arm 39, it having been explained that arms 38 and 39 are connected to the line. The current set up by the microphone will thus beamplified and sent directly into the telephonic line. All this, as already stated, takes place when the person that is called is present. In the case of his absence, now considered, the two arms 58-59 will have been brought against contacts 60-61 and the currents set up in the coils by the passage of the magnetized wire between them; will replace those produced by the voice in microphone 73.

The working of the apparatus in the case of the presence of the person that is called has thus been explained. It has been explained that in the case of the absence of this person, the recording apparatus is substituted for loud speaker 72, and the dictating system is substituted for- We have already explained the different operations of unhooking the receiver and placing it on the line, and of energizing retarded relay 25 and of starting motor 35.

The shaft of motor 35 is rigidly connected with the spindles of spools A, 91A, 86A, 86B, 86C, 86D, 86E and spools 85B, 91B, 87A, 87B, 87C, 87D, 87E, through mechanical coupling means that are not illustrated for the sake of simplicity of the drawings. These spools are each rotated through frictional means so that while one of them is being rotated, for in tance, the others are stopped by a stop tooth as willbe hereinafter explained. however, for the sake of clearness, the drawings do not show the mechanical organs that permit of rewinding the steel wire when the wire has been completely unwound from one spool and is wound around the corresponding spool.

Spool 85B is wound with magnetic steel wire that has not been already engraved, the wire passing between the cores of electro-magnets 88-89 and winding itself on spool 85A.

In a similar manner, spools 87A, 87B 87E sponds to a message engraved on its wire, which, 9'7, armature 94, conductors 121 and 122, and the passing "between the cores of electro-magnets windings of electro-magnets 88-89 88-89, will then wind around corresponding The currents thus induced by the passage of the spool 86A, 86B 86E. On the contrary spool wires containing the electro-magnetically re- 91A is wound with a wire on which has been recorded message dictated in advance, will flow corded in advance by magnetic engraving, a senthrough the primary of transformer '79, and intence, which, for instance, notifies for instance duce in its secondary currents that will be amplithe caller of the absence of the person that is fled by tube V2, and conveyed to the telephone called, invites him to transmit this message and line through the circuits previously described. to dial the code number or key number for re- If, while this message is being delivered by the ceiving the message dictated by the person that is apparatus that has been called, the caller hapnow being called, in the absence of said person. pens to speak, this will have no effect whatever This message, which has been electromagnetion electro-magnets 88--89 of the speaking cally engraved on the wire wound around spool oup b caus o the Opening of the contacts o 91A, isdelivered to anyone that calls this installaay 9 e d o th Circuit of amplifying es ture 107, said armature being rigidly connected to Pene contacts 94-497 and 593-98 -conductor 103, armature '7, contact 108, conduction, and is wound between spools 91A--91B in Y1-V2. v spiral fashion so that as soon as the sentence is Therefore, he app is new Working o y finished the beginning of the message on the wire as a transmitter, and the caller hears in his reis positioned opposite the cores of electro-magnets e v th t fic of the absence of the p 89-88, account being taken of the inertia neces- 5011 he had d, a d, f r s a ce, an invitat on sary forgiving the wire a normal speed of tra sto transmit a message that will be recorded. lation. Once this communication is ended, the appara- Electra-magnets 89-3 diagramatically form tus is automatically brought into its receiving pcth alled Pom m speaking group As sition as will be hereinafter explained. matter of fact, for practical purposes, the electro- A r u i bar 114A 114E slides on each magnets are of a different form and are four or Spool respeetively- It represents diagrammatisix in number instead of two. Since this speak- Cally any a al device pt d t p n ning group i t th object of th invention, t tacts.104 and 125 when the desired portion of the has be n sho diagrammatically Th one wire that was wound around spool 91A has been may rovid ithe Speaking group for each transferred to spool 91B. This portion of wire 5 3001, or one common t ,11 t Spools, t mag corresponds to'the length of the sentence to be netic wires being positioned so as; to pass the transmitted, and theedjustment of this p t n magnet eeres side by Side is effected by suitable cooperation with bar 114.

As has been explained, t energizing of The'wires of spool 91A differ from those wound tarded relay takes place at the beginning of around 5130015 37A S ce the message,

the rotation of motor 35. This relay 25 will at- Once delivered, is to be wound. not on po 91B.

tract its armature 2s, and will thus connect the but again on spool To is e it ha positive terminal offeed battery 2'! to contact 29. been explained that it had to be Wound s o This closes a circuit which includes terminal form an endless spiral.

2'1, armature 28, conductor 99, conductor 100, the when the Whole message has been delivered of electro magnet conductors the Contact 0: bar iS cut Ofi SO 102 and 103, Contact 104, regulating bar 114 and electro-magnet lll is no longer connected to the grounded negative terminal 105 The electm- "negativeterminal 115, and consequently releases magnet 101 thus energized will attract its arma- Stop teeth This Step5 spools 91B and f relay 92. Bar stop teeth 111 Which locked the SDOOL The 114 is moved away from contact 104 and rests on t released by d t t th will he frictionany contact 125. This will close the following circuit: driven by the haft f motor 35, and will thus negative terminal 105, bar 114, contact 125, concause the magnetic wire already whuhd around ductors 106, 126, relay 127, conductor 128, contact Spool 91A to pass to the other Spool 129, axis of distributor 133, contact 131 and posi- At the same time as spool 91B is released by tive terminal teeth 111, armature 107 is joined with Contact The contact of distributor is so arranged 108. This closes the circuit which includes negathat when applied against Contact t is also tive terminal 105, regulating bar 114, contact 104, applied on contact 129 located Opposite Electro-magnet 127 will therefore be ener ized, tors 109, 110, 1 12, winding of relay 92 and posiand will attract Step teeth tive terminal 113. Relay 92 .is energized and Motor 35 is Still revolving, and $11001 ethus attracts armatures 94-93 (which are rigidly leased by step teeth 133 and frietieneny driven connected to each other) and fdices against the shaft of Said mOtOl, turn and thus contacts 7 reshective1y on its periphery, the wire that was wound around The wires of spool 91A, magnetized in advance corresponding $1,001 by the well .kn "Poulsen ff t, by passing As it has been stated, this wire has not yet been between the cores of electro-mggnets 3 111 magnetized and by passing between the cores of produce a variation of the magnetic field genereleetlo-megnete 83-439 When the current from. ated by th c rrent supplied by battery 135,59 the telephonic line flows through said electrocurrent flowing in the win nets 88-89. Each variation of the field will incaller is reeordedt duce an alternating voltage in the windings suri I have first explained the Working of e anmunding eleetrom gnet a3 d 39 according t paratus as a transmitter when it was called from well known e1ectrica1 principles and as a conseanother telephone installation. Its action as a quence, at a given time, a current will flow throug recording receiver is as follows. By breaking the conductors 116 and 117, armature 93, contact 98, Contact between 104 and 114A, not y has conductor 119, battery 135, contact 61, am 59, ct i p ol 9 been p but also elay conductor 80, primary of transformer 79,-cond 92 has been deenergized since it has been cut off tor '78, am 58, contact 60, conductor 120, t t from grounded negative terminal 105. Theredings of electro-m magnets, the words or message dictated by the fore no current will flow through relay 92, and

the armatures 94-93 which, until now, were applied against contacts 97-98, are moved away from said contacts thus opening the dictating circuits.

The two armatures 9493 thus released will make contact with contacts 95-96 respectively, thus closing the receiving and recording circuit which comprises electro-magnet 88 (which now acts for recording), conductor 121, armature 94, contact 95, conductors 118 and 136, contact 56, arm 52, conductor 66, secondary of transformer 65, conductor 67, winding of relay 68, conductor 69, relay70, conductor 71, arm 53, contact 57, conductor 137, contact 96, armature 93, conductors 117 and 116, winding electro-magnet 89, conductor 123 and electro-magnet 88.

It has explained previously through which circuit the telephone current of the line is conveyed flowing through the circuit above described, will be fed to electro-magnets 88-89.

The current that flows through said electromagnets and therefore the flux between the cores of saidelectro-magnets, will vary proportionally to the variations of current in the telephonic The steel wire that passes between the proportional to the current flowing in the winding of electro-magnets 88-89.

The words or the message dictated by the caller will therefore be magnetically recorded on the steel wire according to the Poulsen system- When the answer of the caller is finished, no telephone line, and

normal plate current is insuflicient to actuate retarded relay 25). The current necessary for keeping retarded relay t has been stated previously that the object the retarded relay is to It should be noted that all the positive terminals shown in the drawings do not relate directly to the'positive terminal of the feed battery, but to thepositive terminal 30, which is connected through conductor 99 to contact 29 which in the operative working position of retarded relay 95 is in contact with armature 28 directly connected to the positive terminal of the feed battery.

When retarded relay 25 is deenergized, armature 28 moves away from contact 29, thus breaking the motor voltage supply and restoring the other circuits to their normal positions.

The motor, the relays, and all the other apparatus therefore assume their normal positions.

In order to disconnect the apparatus from the telephone line, it is now necessary to automatically perform the operation, normally carried out by hand, of lowering the hook that supports the receiver, and to keep it lowered. This is done in the following manner: As the armature 28 of retarded relay 25 is no longer attracted by the relay, not only does it move away from contact 99, thus restoring the apparatus to its normal position, but it is applied against contact 140 thus closing a circuit including positive terminal 27, armature 28, contact 140, conductor 141, relay 142, conductor 143, contact 144, armature 145 and grounded negative terminal 146.

The relay 144 that is thus fed will attract its armature 145. The latter is in turn rigidly connected with hook 5 through bar 147. By lowering armature 145, hook 5 will be lowered, and by rubbing against armature 13 of relay 11, .it will be locked under said armature, therefore remaining in this lower position. As armature 145 is rigidly connected to hook 5, it will also remain in its lower position, and accordingly contacts 144-445 through which pass the current of relay 142, will be opened.

This prevents current passing in a continuous manner through relay 142 when the apparatus is unused.

I will now explain the working of :the apparatus with respect to its characteristic of transmitting private messages.

I have already stated, the possibility of transmitting five private messages, but obviously an unlimited number of said messages can be transmitted. The five particular messages are recorded on wires wound around spools 87A, 87B 87E When one of them is transmitted to a calle it is wound on the respective spool 86A, 86B 86E 'The means utilized for these transmissions are identical to those already described with reference to spool 91A, the only difference being in the starting, since the spools now considered are started not by the call signal as explained for the common or general messages (spool 91A) but by'a special signal transmitted by the calling telephone installation. Therefore, once the common or general message notifying the absence of the person that is called has been transmitted, the problem for the caller is to operate among spools 87A 87E, the one that will transmit the message left for him by the person that he calls, and who is absent.

Each apparatus is provided with a dial 02 exactly similar (as for its working principle) to that of the automatic telephone apparatus C1. The presence of this second dial C2 is due to the fact that it is desired to avoid any modification of the equipment that comprises a telephone installation, so as to permit of being wholly independent of said installation. It is obvious that, if this consideration is considered unimportant, it is possible to use the same telephone dial by utilizing a suitable switch without changing the principle of this invention.

This idal C2 which is the same as those used for automatic telephones, has on its outer periphery a number disc 212 with corresponding holes for introducing the finger therein, and causing it to rotate it as far as a stopping tooth (not shown in the drawings) when it is desired to close contacts 216-217, a certain num er of times.

, Relay 220 is energized In ordinary dials, the displacement of part 213 is obtained through a toothed wheel 210 having ten teeth corresponding to the figures of the disc, and the toothed wheel is caused to rotate, not directly when numbered disc 212 is rotated by hand, but by means of a spring which in turn will rotate th toothed wheel by a number of teeth equal to the number corresponding tothe hole in which the finger was inserted. As for an ordinary telephone dial, roller 211 carried by bar 213 will move over the outline of the toothed wheel, and therefore is number 3 for instance is dialed, three teeth will pass on roller 211 thus imparting three'pulsations to bar, 213, thus closing contacts 216-217 thrice. As above stated, this closing of the contacts takes place through the intermediary of a spring, and during the backward rotation of numbered wheel 212. During the tensioning of said spring a small bolt 200 is brought against crank lever 202 which is pushed downwardly by pivoting about a point 204, and causes arm 203 to apply contacts 205-206 against each other. At the same time, small bolt 200 will move past said bell crank lever 202.

During the backward rotation of the wheel, bolt 200 will merely raise lever 202 without pushing it against contact 206.

It can therefore be seen that at the beginning of the dialing of a key number, or. to be very accurate, when each figure that goes to form said number is dialed, contacts 205-206 will be applied against each other,.closing the following circuit: negative terminal 208, conductor 207, contacts 206-205, conductor 218, relay 220, conductors 219-223 and positive terminal 221. by a pulsation-of current. This relay will attract its armature 227 which, being immediately released, will break into oscillation in the manner of a tuning fork at a frequency that is well determined and defined by the thickness, length, outline and grade of the steel of which it is made.

As this blade is so chosen as to have its frequency of oscillation in the range of audio frequencies, it will oscillate in the magnetic field produced by coil 301 within which said blade is located. This magnetic field is produced by the constant current flowing from positive terminal 307 into the primary of transformer 306, conductors 305-228, coil 301, conductor 303 and,

negative terminal 304.

This permanent magnetic field will'therefore vary in accordance with the vibrations of armature 227, that is F1, which is the natural frequency of oscillation of plate 227.

But these variations of the permanent magnetic field produce variations in voltage at the terminals of coil 301, and therefore at the terminals of the primary of transformer .306, through conductor 305. It is each displacement of small bolt 200 of numbered wheel C2, that is to say whenever a figure of the key number is dialed, there will be impulses of alternating current in the primary of transformer 306, the frequency of this current being determined by the natural frequency .of oscillation of armature 227.

Therefore in order to dial a key-number, for instance number 54322, numbered wheel 212 will be rotated so that number 5 is brought against the stop tooth, thus causing the armature 227 to vibrate at a frequency F1, and this will cause a current of a frequency'equal to F1 to flow to say at a constant frequency therefore clear that, for.

through the primary 306 of the transformer. By thus bringing number 5 of wheel 212 into contact with the stop tooth, the spring cooperating with said whe'el 212 will have been tensioned, and as soon as said wheel is released by the finger, it will begin to rotate backwards, toothed wheel 210- moving that lever 213 will be displaced five times, and will therefore close contacts 216-217 five times at regular intervals.

Theclosing of these contacts will close the following circuit: negative terminal 208, conductor 209, contacts 216-217, contact 225,, relay 222, conductor 223 and positive terminal 221.

-As already explained for electro-magnet 220,

electro-magnet 222 will attract its armature 226, whichwill in turn oscillate at its natural frequency.-

This frequency current, which is quite different from the current of frequency F1, is produced by the oscillations of armature 227, will be called F2, and it ,will flow through the primary of transformer 306.

Furthermore, as number 5 has been dialed, contacts 216-217 have been closed five times, and therefore electro-magn'et 222 has been energized five times. Consequently five pulsations of current at a frequency F2 have been produced in the primary of transformer 306.

When number 4 is then dialed (the key number cited by way of example being 54322.),there is produced in transformer 306, first a pulsation of current at a frequency F1, and then four pulsations at a frequency F2; when number 3 is dialed there is a pulsation at a frequency F1 and then three pulsations at a frequency F2. When each of the numbers 2 is dialed, there is first a pulsation-at a frequency F1 and then two pulsations at a frequency F2.

These pulsations of current at low frequencies, by flowing through the primary 306 of the transformer, will induce currents of equal frequency in the secondary 308 of this transformer.

From said secondary, these pulsations of cur rent will flow to amplifying tube V3. Amplified pulsations of current will thus be set up in the primary 310 of a transformer, thus inducing pulsations of current in the secondary 312 of this transformer. These pulsations of current are conveyed to the telephone line through conductors 313-314, contacts 39-38, and conductors 36-37.

I will now explain what takes place at the telephone installation of the person that is called. As above described, when the call signal is received, all the operations of branching the way of example, that the key-number'consisted of five figures (54322). Each apparatus is provided with five (if the number of key-numbers and of messages available at this installation is five, six if there are six key-numbers and six messages available at this installation, etc.) preselectors of the type usually employed for automatic telephone installations. Each preselector by five teeth. This means consists of five elements (447A, 447B, 47C, 447D,

, 447E) for example. Each element carries, at its periphery, ten contacts (from zero to nine) on which can frictionally move one brush for each element (500A, 5003, 5000, 500D, 500E) for example, for the sake of clearness of the drawings, have not been indicated by a number in the successive preselectors. These brushes are rigidly carried by spindles 460, 461, 462, 463, 464. Each spindle is controlled by a relay (144A, 1443, 144C, 144D, 144E) which, for each pulsation of current that passes through it, will attract its respective armatures 145A, 1453, 1450, 145D, 145E. Each of these armatures engages by its hooked end between teeth carried by the spindle of the preselector and its displacement will cause the corresponding brush 500A 500E to rotate through an angle corresponding to one tooth, one of the contacts disposed on the periphery of each element of the preselector being correspondingly rotated.

Each message will be characterized by the starting of one element of each preselector. For the first message, there will first be brought into action the element 447A of the first preselector, the element 448A of the second preselector, the element 449A of the third selector, the element 450Aof the fourth selector, and the element 451A of the fifth selector.

For the second "message, elements 4473, 4483, 449B, 450B, 451B, willbe caused to act.

Forthe third message elements 447C 451C will be caused to act. For the fourth message, elements 447D 451D, and for the fifth message elements 447E 451E, will be caused to act.

' By way of example, I will now explain the operation of the apparatus corresponding to the first message. The key-number will be determined by the position of plugs 452A, 453A, 454A, 455A, 456A. These plugs are movable, and each of them can be fixed on one of the ten contacts disposed along the periphery of each element and of each preselector. Plug 452A will be fixed on one of the ten'contacts of element 447A, plug 453A on one of the ten contacts of element 448A, etc. Each of these plugs is connected to a brush rubbing against a ring on which is fixed the rotating brush, electrically insulated from the spindle by which it is driven. Thus, plug 452A is connected to sliding contact 501A of the first element of the second preselector; plug 453A is sliding contact 502A of the first third preselector; plug 454A is connected to the sliding contact 503A of the first element of the fourth preselector; plug 455A is connected to contact 504A; and plug 456A is connected to conductor 520A.

The key-number is defined by the position of plugs 452A 452E, 453A 453E, 454A 454E, etc., on the contacts of the respective elements of the preselector.

I will now explain the operation of the apparatus for a given message.

It has been supposed that the key-number taken by way of example was 54322.

At the telephone installation that is called, plug 452A has been placed in advance on contact number 5 of element 447A; plug 453A has been fixed on contact number 4 of element 448A; plug 454A has been fixed on 449A; plug 455A has beenfixed on contact number'2 of element 450A; and plug 456A has been fixed on contact number 2 of element 451A. All the rotating brushes are in their position of rest contact number 3 of element on the zeros. There will now be explained how the message characterized by key-number 54322 isselected and transmitted. It has been seen that, at the telephone installation of the caller, after having been advised of the absence of the person that is called, the caller, knowing that there is a message for him, has dialed key-number 54322 by means of device C2. This has caused the following pulsations to be emitted into the telephone line: a pulsation at frequency F1 and five pulsations at frequency F2, a pulsation at frequency F1 and four pulsations at frequency F2, a pulsation at frequency F1 andthree pulsations at frequency F2, a pulsation at frequency F1 and two pulsations at frequency F2, a pulsation at frequency F1, and two pulsations at frequency F2. The first pulsation of current at frequency F1 coming from the telephone line" will flow,- through the conductors mentioned in the preceding description,'to contact arms 38-39. This current will flow through contact 46, conductor 47, primary 48 of transformer 4848bis, conductor49, secondary 50 of another transformer, conductor 51,- brush 38, and from there to the telephone line.

These pulsations of current at frequency F1 will be amplified by tube V1, and will then'fiow through the primary of transformer 65. This will induce corresponding pulsations of current through the secondary of transformer 65, conductor 67, winding of electro-magnet 68, conductor 69, electro-magnet 70, conductor 71, and recording electro-magnets 88-89.

Electro-magnets 68 and 70 will therefore be subjected to a pulsation of current at a frequency F1.

These electro-magnets will attract and release their own vibrating armatures 400 and 401 respectively, at a frequency equal to F1. But one of these blades namely blade 401, is such that its natural frequency of oscillation is exactly equal to that of blade 227 (which has produced frequency F1). Blade 401 will therefore immedi- On the'contrary, blade 400 (the frequency of which is equal to F2) will not resonate and therefore its amplitude of oscillation will not be sufficient for bringing it into contact with 402.

Vibrating blade 401 contacting with 405 will close the following circuit; negative terminal 403. vibrating blade 401, contact 405, conductor 406, electro-magnet 407 and positive terminal 408. The electro-magnet 407, thus energized will attract its armature 410. This armature is engaged by its hooked end 143 in the teeth of a toothed wheel 411 so that its attraction by electro-magnet 407 will cause said toothed wheel 411 to rotate through an angle corresponding to one tooth.

The effect of this rotation will be that brush 130 will leave contacts 129-131 and will be brought upon contact 142A. This will open the circuit through which electro-magnet 127 is energized so that said electro-magnet will release its armature 133, which will engage spool A, thus stopping its movement, and causing it to rub on the friction element above mentioned. In this way, the recording on the wire of spool 58A will be interrupted.

It has been seen that after a first pulsation, brush 130 is brought upon contact 142A.

It has also been seen that the transmission of a pulsation at a frequency F1 from the telephone installation of 460 of the first preselector cause brush 130 ward one tooth successive impulses at a frequency F2, when the number dialed is 5.

These pulsations, flowing through the circuits previously described for the accommodation of frequency F1, will also energize electro-magnets 68-70. Blade 400 will be attracted by the electromagnet 68 due to .the effect of the pulsation of current at frequency F2 through the windings of the magnet.

'Every time a current pulsation of frequency F2 is received, blade 400, under the effect of the phenomenon of resonance, will be brought into contact with 402, whereas 401, which is not tuned to resonance, cannot be brought into contact with 405. When a pulsation of current of frequency F2 is received, blade 400 comes into contact with 402 and closes the following circuit: negative terminal 403, blade 400, conductor 402, rotating brush 404, brush 1'30 (now applied against contact 142A) contact 142A, conductor 600A, electro-magnet 144A and a positive terminal. In the specific case chosen as an example, as five pulsations of current at frequency F2 will be received, the contact 400-402 will be closed five successive times.

Relay 144A will thus be energized five times, and it will attract its armature 145A five times.

Armature 145A will therefore cause spindle to rotate through an angle corresponding to five teeth, thus bringing brush 500A with which it is rigidly connected, onto contact No. 5 on which has been placed plug 452A.

As above explained, the calling telephone installation will then transmit a pulsation at frequency F1, and four pulsations at frequency F2 successively.

When the pulsation of frequency F1 fiows through magnets 68-70, blade 401 will close on contact 405, thus transmitting a pulsation of current to relay 407.

As it has already been explained, said relay will then attract its armature which, through its hooked end 143, will displace brush 130 and thus bring it on to contact 14213. The four pulsations of current at frequency F2 are then received, and close four times contacts 400-402.

Electro-magnet 144B will thus receive four pulsations of current through the circuit already described and the brush of element 448A will accordingly be brought on to contact No. 4 on which is fixed plug 453A.

- A third pulsation of current at frequency F1 will now be received. The brush 130 of the distributorwill be brought onto contact 142C. Three pulsations of current at frequency F2 will then be received, and by actuating electro-magnet 144C, they will bring the brush of element 449A of the third preselector onto contact No. 3 on which is fixed plug 454A.

A fourth pulsation of current at frequency F1 will now be received, and after it two pulsations of current at frequency F2 will also be received. The pulsation of current at frequency F1 will of the distributor to move forthus coming onto contact 142D. The two pulsations of current at frequency F2 will cause, through electro-magnet 144D, the brush of the first element 450A of the fourth preselector to come onto contact No. 2 on which is fixed plug 455A.

' Finally, a pulsation of current at frequency F1 and two pulsations of current at frequency F2 will be received. The pulsation of current at frequency F2 will cause brush of the distributor tomove forward one tooth and to come onto '2, and finally,

ber in order contact 142E. The two pulsations of current at frequency F2 by means of relay 144E will cause the brush of the first element 541A of the fifthpreselector to wipe against contact No. 2 to which is fixed plug 456.4.

In this way, it will be seen that when the calling telephone installation transmits the keynumber, the brush of element 447 of the first preselector is brought onto contact No. 5, the brushof element 448A of the second preselector is brought onto contact No. 4, the brush of element 449A of the third preselector is brought onto contact No. 3, the brush of element 450A of the fourth preselector is brought onto contact No. the brush of element 451A of the fourth preselector is brought onto contact No. 2.

It has been explained in a preceding description that the person at the telephone installation that is called has placed plugs 452A, 453A, 454A, 455A, 456A on contacts Nos. 5, 4, 3, 2, 2 of the first element of each preselector respectively. When the brush of the last element wipes against contact No. 2, the following circuit is closed: positive terminal 446A, brush 510A, contact No. 5 (onto which the brush has been brought) plug 452A (fixed before hand on contact No. 5), brush 501A, rotating brush of element 448A, contact No. 4 (onto which the brush has been brought), plug 453A (fixed before hand on contact No. 4) sliding brushes 502A, rotating brush of element 449A, contact No. 3 (on to which the brush has been brought) plug 454A No. 3) sliding brush 503A, rotating brush of element 450A, contact No. 2, conductor 455A, sliding brush 504A, rotating brush of element 451A,

contact No. 2, plug 456A (fixed beforehand on contact No. 2) conductor 520, relay 610A, conductors 612A-613A, contact 614A, control bar 1143 and negative terminal 615A.

Electro-magnet 610A thus energized, will attract its armature 620A which is-integral with stop tooth 618A of spool 86A. leased by its stop tooth and driven through frictional contact with the shaft of motor 35, will begin to wind the wire containing the magnetically recorded message wound about the corresponding spool 87A, thus transmitting the mes-, sage intended for the calling telephone installation, this message being dictated in the same way as above described with reference to spool It is therefore obvious that a mistake in a single'figure, in the dialing of the key-number, will cut the circuit above described so that the transmission of the message will not be possible.

- It is therefore necessary to know all of the figures (five in this case) that form the key numto be able to obtain the transmission of the message from the telephone installation that-iscalled.

However, before the apparatus was acting as a receiving and recording device. It is therefore necessary tocause it to act as a repeating and transmitting device.

Consequently, at the same time as the stop tooth 618A of spool 86A is, released, the arma-. ture 620A is attracted so as to come'into con;-

tact with 621A. This closes the fol owing circuit:

negative terminal 615A, contact 614A, conductor 613, armature (fixed before hand on contact The latter, re-

the energizing of relay 610A,=

620A, contact 621A, conductors 611, 110, 112, relay 92 and positive terminal 113.

paratus into transmitting When a message has been entirely delivered, control bar 114B is raised as previously explained. This will out oi? the negative terminal 615A from relay 610A so that the armature 620A and consequently stop tooth 618A will be released, thus stopping the rotation of spool 86A.

But the armature 620A, by being released, ceases to be in contact with 621A, and thus cuts ofi the current flowing to relay 92. The armatures 93-94 of this relay are thus released, and condition the apparatus so that it acts as a receiving and recording system.

When tooth 618A is hooked into spool 86A, this tooth, rigidly connected to armature 620A of relay 610A, comes into contact with 623A.

Stop tooth 618A, which is permanently connected to the positive terminal at 622A now connects this contact 623A to said positive terminal.

When control bar 114B is moved away from contact 614A, it comes into contact with 616A and thus closes the following circuit: negative terminal6l5A, control bar 1143, contact 616A, conductors 617A-630, 126, relay 127, conductors 128, 626, 625A, contact 623A, stop tooth 618A and positive terminal 622A.

Relay 127 will thus attract its armature (stop tooth) 133 thereby releasing the recording spool 85A which winds the magnetically recorded wire after it has received the answer from the calling telephone installation.

For the sake of cleamess of the drawings, I have omitted the contacts corresponding to 623A of stop tooth 618A for the other electro-magnets 610B, 610C, 610D, 610E.

It is obvious that the circuit for these electromagnets will be substantially the same as the circuits described for electro-magnet 610A.

For the same reason I have omitted the device that brings the distributor and the preselectors back to their zero position when the message has been transmitted.

When the answer from the calling telephone installation has been duly recorded by the appar tus at the receiving telephone installation, all t e units of "the apparatus resume their normal position of rest through the operations above described.

If it is desired to utilize the apparatus fordictating purposes, it will sufiice to bring arms 39-38 on to contacts 41-42 thus inserting the normal microphone-telephone system (4) of an ordinary apparatus, and connecting the microphone to contacts 45-46 by bringing arms 52-53 on to contacts 56-57. Motoris then started by depressing contact 701 against contact 702, and contact 704 will be applied against contact 705 (of spool 85A) in order that the apparatus may electro-magnetically record the words that are uttered.

In order to utilize the apparatus as a dictaphone, it will suffice to energize electro-magnet 92 without moving the contacts above described, by bringing contact 708 (grounded at 707) against contact 709, to connect loud speaker 72 to contacts 54-55 (with which microphone 73 was previously connected) in order that the apparatus may repeat through the loud speaker the words dictated and recorded by means of the electromagnetic system. The same operation will be performed when it is desired to hear a telephone message recorded by the apparatus during the absence of the person that was called.

My invention is described with particularity in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a telephone installation having a signal box and a normally depressed rec: iver hook, of means associated with the receiver hook for automatically lifting the latter on the signal being received, an electric motor, means associated with the receiver hook for starting the motor on the book being lifted, a telegraphone electrically connected to the telephone circuit, a plurality of record carriers operatively associated ,with said telegraphone for transmitting and receiving messages over the telephone circuit, means for operatively joining one of said record carriers with the motor on the receiver hook being lifted for the transmission of a general message, selecting means operable by the caller over the telephone circuit for operatively joining another record carrier with the motor for the transmission of a special message, means for operatively joining a third record carrier to the motor for recording a message transmitted by the caller, means controlled by the speech current for maintaining the device operative, and means for restoring the receiver hook to depressed position after the speech current ceases.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 in combination with a loud speaker, a microphone, and a switch for connecting said loud. speaker and microphone to the telephone circuit instead of the telegraphone.

3. The device claimed in claim 1 in combination with a microphone, and a switch for connecting said microphone to the telegraphone.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection between the bell box and receiver hook comprises an electric circuit including the bell clapper, contacts in said circuit through which the latter is closed when the clapper is operated, a catch holding the receiver hook normally depressed, and a magnet in said latter circuit for operating the catch and releasing the receiver hook.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for maintaining the device operative comprises an electric source, a retarded relay, means operated by the lifted receiver hook for initially energizing said relay through the source, means controlled by said relay for maintaining all the electric parts of the device C011? nected to the positive pole of the source, and means for passing the speech currents through the relay.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for maintaining the device operative comprises an electric source, a retarded relay means operated by the lifted receiver hook for initially energizing said relay through the source, means controlled by said relay for maintaining all the circuits of the device connected to the positive pole of the electric source, means for passing the speech current through said relay and means for amplifying said speech currents.

7. The device claimed in claim 1 in combination with a switch for connecting the device to the telephone circuit instead of the ordinary telephone receiver.

8. The combination with a telephone installation having a signalling circuit and a normally depressed receiver hook, of means associated with the signalling circuit and the receiver hook for automatically lifting the latter on the signal being operated, an electric motor, means associated with the receiver hook for starting the motor on the hook being lifted, an electro-magnetic speaking head connectedto the telephone circuit, a plurality of record carriers operatively asociated with said speaking head for transmitting and recording messages over the telephone circuit, a plurality of spools holding said carriers and adapted to be frictionally coupled to the motor for rotation thereby, arresting means maintaining the spools and record carriers normally inoperative, a retarded relay, means operated by the lifted receiver hook for initially energizing said relay, means operated by said relay for releasing the spools of one record carrier for the transmission of a general message, selecting means operable by the caller over the telephone circuit for releasing the spools of a second carrier for the transmission of a special message, means controlled by the receiving spools for re-arresting the spools after the transmission of the messages, means operated by the re-arresting means of the last set of spools for releasing the spools of a third record carrier for recording a message transmitted by the caller, means controlled by the relay for maintaining the different circuits operative, means for maintaining the relay energized by the speech current, and means associated with the relay for restoring the receiver hook to depressed position when the relay is de-energized.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means for arresting the spools comprises pivoted catches and wherein the means for releasing the spools comprises electro-magnets adapted to operate said catches.

10. The device claimed in claim 8 in combination with a switch for changing over from reception to transmission and vice versa, an electro-magnet for operating said switch, and means associated with the spool arresting and releasing .means for energizing and de-energizing said electro-magnet.

11. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the receiving and re-arresting means controlled by the receiving spools comprises in each case a switch lever bearing against and operated by the record carrier.

12. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the selecting means comprises a dialling disc, means for producing electric impulses by the rotation of said disc, a series of rotatable switch elements, and means operated by the electric impulses for setting said switch elements.

13. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the selecting means comprises a dialling disc, means for producing electric impulses by the rotation of said disc, a series of rotatable switch elements, means operated by the electric impulses for rotating said switch elements, and contacts co-operating with said switch elements and adapted to be electrically connected in different manners for determining the selection of a message.

14. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the selecting means comprises a selecting circuit, a dialling disc in said circuit, means operable by the disc for producing electric impulses in said circuit at two difierent frequencies, means operable by the impulses of one frequency for selecting a set of switch elements, means operable by the other frequency for rotating-said set of switch elements, and contacts co-operating with said switch elements and adapted to be interconnected in different manners for determining the selection of a message.

15. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the selecting means comprises a selecting circuit, a dialing disc in said circuit, means operable by thedisc for producing electric impulses in said circuit at two different frequencies, a preselector in said circuit, a series of rotatable switch elements, means operable by the impulses of one frequency for connecting the preselector electrically with different sets of switch elements, means operable by the other frequency for rotating the switch elements, and contacts co-operating with said switch elements and adapted to be interconnected in different manners for determining the selection of the message.

16. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the selecting means comprises a selecting circuit, a dialling disc in said circuit, means poerable by the disc for producing electric impulses in said circuit at two different frequencies, a pre-selector in said circuit, groups of coaxial rotary switch elements, means operable by the impulses of one frequency for connecting the pre-selector electrically and in succession with the diiferent groups of switch elements, means operable by the other frequency for rotating the switch elements of each group through a given number of steps, and contacts co-operating with said switch elements and adapted to be interconnected in diflerent manners for determining the selection of a message.

1'7. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means for restoring the receiver hook to depressed position comprises a magnet, an armature for said magnet connected mechanically to the hook a circuit for said magnet including the armature and a contact against which the armature bears when the hook is in raised position, and means released by the retarded relay for passing current through-said magnet circuit when the relay becomes de-energized.

PIER CARLO RICCHIARDI. 

